Policies light on detail

Business groups expressed disappointment about the lack of detail on economic policy from both sides in the Victorian state election campaign.

The Labor government’s key pledges include a $200 million cut to payroll tax, a boost to apprenticeship numbers in the construction industry and $242 million to expand the Melbourne exhibition centre.

The Coalition has offered a $790 million cut in stamp duty and cuts to training fees to try to boost skills.

Victorian Employers Chamber of Commerce and Industry chief executive Wayne Kayler-Thomson said these policies were welcome, as was a bipartisan focus on improving community safety.

But he said there was no coherent approach to major challenges such as transforming the state’s agricultural sector or managing the transition away from a dependence on brown coal for energy.

“The over-arching disappointment we would have is we have been looking for a longer-term vision and plan for Victoria’s competitiveness and we have not seen that come forward from either of the major parties," Mr Kayler-Thomson said.

Australian Industry Group Victorian director Tim Piper said the major parties had focused on electorally popular social policies rather than business issues during the campaign.

He welcomed initiatives flagged by both sides in areas such as local purchasing policies, but he criticised a lack of detail to back the stated intentions.